9 speed trans
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Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 12,267
Likes: 906
From: THE Orange County, California
2024 C8 Z06- 2025 BMW CS- 2022 Porsche 992 GTS
I have had 6 MCT's (all older non 9 speed models) with the first one being a 2010 E63 and my last age wise was a 2017 C63S (I still have the 2012 C63BS and just sold my 17 C63S) and while every bad thing that was said about it has been felt at some point- the 9 speed on my E63S is clearly the best of the lot. The response from the throttle and even the paddles (I never used in my other cars because the delays sucked) is very very good. Its not PDK or DCT good but its a much better transmission 8 years later. I think the software (TCU) has alot to do with it and the electronics have got much better. The old MCT's needed manual adjustments to get the car into the right gear but now I just use Sport Plus and drive the car.
With the 9 speed I rarely use the paddles, not because of the lack of response, but because I dont want to worry about hunting for the right gear as I enter or exit turns. 9 speeds is a lot and I would rather just trust the TCU to keep me in the right rpm range. Sport Plus does this for me while not leaving the rpm threshold at red line when Im cruising. Race mode wont shift up unless I hit the red line and driving around the city can be quite annoying while Sport Plus and the 9 speed work hand in hand so I dont like/sound like a freak winding out my rpms while Im just cruising. Others like Race but probably have to shift manually at times; I do not shift as much so Sport Plus works great.
Ill get out of my R8 or GTS (both DCT's) and its not the easiest thing to discern the difference in shift speeds and response. Yes its there but clearly the 9 speed is more efficient MCT than the prior iterations. Its still not perfect but its about as close as its going to get in MCT format.
Compared to the ZF8 in the RS7- its a close one but the MCT feels just a bit more responsive and efficient (stock vs stock) but Ive had a few ZF's and its still a great tradtional tq converting tranny. The new F90 M5 has it and the numbers it puts up are impressive.
With the 9 speed I rarely use the paddles, not because of the lack of response, but because I dont want to worry about hunting for the right gear as I enter or exit turns. 9 speeds is a lot and I would rather just trust the TCU to keep me in the right rpm range. Sport Plus does this for me while not leaving the rpm threshold at red line when Im cruising. Race mode wont shift up unless I hit the red line and driving around the city can be quite annoying while Sport Plus and the 9 speed work hand in hand so I dont like/sound like a freak winding out my rpms while Im just cruising. Others like Race but probably have to shift manually at times; I do not shift as much so Sport Plus works great.
Ill get out of my R8 or GTS (both DCT's) and its not the easiest thing to discern the difference in shift speeds and response. Yes its there but clearly the 9 speed is more efficient MCT than the prior iterations. Its still not perfect but its about as close as its going to get in MCT format.
Compared to the ZF8 in the RS7- its a close one but the MCT feels just a bit more responsive and efficient (stock vs stock) but Ive had a few ZF's and its still a great tradtional tq converting tranny. The new F90 M5 has it and the numbers it puts up are impressive.
